Tips for opening a bank account?

[NorCal78]

Background: US expat, married to an Argentinian, living here 7 years, have DNI, and CUIT (or CUIL, I forget which).

I am trying to open a savings account. I went to Banco de la Ciudad since that's where my husband has his account. Was told to open the account I needed my DNI, my social security card or photocopy (shockingly and serendipitously I had the card in my wallet) and a printed copy of constancia description (?, not sure if this is document name, just proof my income and taxes were legit). After returning with the print out of the AFIP stuff the person that helped me proceed to fill in the little boxes on her computer, then asked my for my "TIN". As in tax identification number. There was a philosophical discussion about my ssn being my tax identification # but regardless of that fact the box required a 19 (!!!!!) digit number and wouldn't let us go further in the process.

Can anyone offer me advice here? What is this 19- digit number and where do I get it? Or any recommendations for different banks, and/or employees that can help?

 

[NorCal78]

I think US citizens might be required to go in person at the moment because of FATCA. At least I've tried a couple different banks online and after several different prompts it says I have to go in person.

 

[daveholman]

Background: US expat, married to an Argentinian, living here 7 years, have DNI, and CUIT (or CUIL, I forget which).

I am trying to open a savings account. I went to Banco de la Ciudad since that's where my husband has his account. Was told to open the account I needed my DNI, my social security card or photocopy (shockingly and serendipitously I had the card in my wallet) and a printed copy of constancia description (?, not sure if this is document name, just proof my income and taxes were legit). After returning with the print out of the AFIP stuff the person that helped me proceed to fill in the little boxes on her computer, then asked my for my "TIN". As in tax identification number. There was a philosophical discussion about my ssn being my tax identification # but regardless of that fact the box required a 19 (!!!!!) digit number and wouldn't let us go further in the process.

Can anyone offer me advice here? What is this 19- digit number and where do I get it? Or any recommendations for different banks, and/or employees that can help?

If they're asking for a US TIN, those are also only 9 digits

 

[pixer12]

Question, have you never had your own bank account during your seven years here?

 

[NorCal78]

Correct. Yes, I know it's ridiculous. I've had other options available to me, but ultimately I'm lazy and hate going in to the city

 

[camel]

Pad it with leading zeros so it's 19 digits. If that doesn't work, pad it with trailing zeros.

 

[carride]

Background: US expat, married to an Argentinian, living here 7 years, have DNI, and CUIT (or CUIL, I forget which).

Ualá and Brubank both give prepaid debit cards from online application. They mail the card to your home. Once setup, and spending with your card, you can enable the interest earning "savings" accounts which trigger the questionnaire to determine if you are required to fill out the FATCA documents. I believe as a US citizen you are. The forms are completed online, so you decide how to proceed without visiting a physical bank. Over time they enable dollar accounts and opportunity to invest in other brokerage account type investments. This seems common with all traditional banks too these days

MercadoPago will trigger the same process if you agree to receive the 35% (or whatever it is) interest that is credited on a daily/weekly basis.

Brokerage account at Balanz has the application completed all online. Also requires the extra FATCA online forms.

After, or before, you start earning Argentina interest you should begin the discussion with your US accountant or understand on your own.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brubank

 

[NorCal78]

Pad it with leading zeros so it's 19 digits. If that doesn't work, pad it with trailing zeros.

Love it. Modern solutions for modern problems

 

[NorCal78]

Ualá and Brubank both give prepaid debit cards from online application. They mail the card to your home. Once setup, and spending with your card, you can enable the interest earning "savings" accounts which trigger the questionnaire to determine if you are required to fill out the FATCA documents. I believe as a US citizen you are. The forms are completed online, so you decide how to proceed without visiting a physical bank. Over time they enable dollar accounts and opportunity to invest in other brokerage account type investments. This seems common with all traditional banks too these days

MercadoPago will trigger the same process if you agree to receive the 35% (or whatever it is) interest that is credited on a daily/weekly basis.

Brokerage account at Balanz has the application completed all online. Also requires the extra FATCA online forms.

After, or before, you start earning Argentina interest you should begin the discussion with your US accountant or understand on your own.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brubank

Thanks for these tips